A NEW era of rail travel in Oxfordshire will come into view this week with the launch of a public consultation into the planned transformation of Oxford Station.

The scheme to expand the station to the other side of Botley Road will significantly reduce delays, Oxford rail passengers are promised.

And as new images of the proposed station were released today, Network Rail and Oxfordshire County Council revealed that they are hoping to submit a planning application in the summer, with work starting next year.

The creation of a new platform on part of the station’s long-stay car park off Becket Street, to be used by services between Oxford and London, will allow the station to cope with larger passenger numbers.

New figures released this week show that the number of people travelling by train in Oxfordshire grew even as the recession began to bite. In 2008-9 Oxford Station was at the start or end of almost five-and-a-half million journeys, a rise of 16.5 per cent on the previous year.

County Hall says the station improvements will meet increasing demand and are central to its aim of making the city more accessible by train as part of its wider Access to Oxford project.

The plans are on display at Oxford Station until April 26.

New images show how the new platform would be linked to the existing station site by a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over Botley Road, replacing the existing footbridge. The new bridge would be larger, covered and lit.

Oxfordshire County Council’s director for environment and economy, Huw Jones, said: “The design and architecture would act as a gateway to Oxford from the west.

“We are excited about this project. The possibility of expanding Oxford Station and improving the experience for all those who travel to and from the city by train has been a hot topic of conversation for some time, and we are now at the stage where the creation of a quality gateway to the city could become a reality.”

While the new platform would be used by trains terminating at Oxford from the south, it would increase capacity and improve reliability by freeing up the existing platforms for through services.

The new platform would have its own entrance building and facilities. It is envisaged that work could start next year, with the platform and bridge operational by 2012.

The bridge would be funded by Department of Transport money given to the multi-million-pound Access to Oxford project to improve rail and road routes into Oxford.

The county council said that a masterplan was being created to ensure the plan for the station was co-ordinated with major proposals to redesign Frideswide Square.

Chris Rayner, Network Rail route director, said: “Oxford Station is a vital transport hub.

“If we’re to continue to provide the level of service that rail-users expect and deserve, then important changes need to be made.

“Our plans for a new platform and the accompanying new pedestrian link will make a lasting difference to passengers in Oxford and pave the way for further improvements at the station in the coming years.”

There are already plans to build two new platforms at the north end of Oxford Station as part of the proposed creation of the new rail route from Oxford to London Marylebone via Bicester by Chiltern Railways.

The Chiltern Railways scheme would also see a new railway station and 1,000-space car park built at Water Eaton.

Chiltern Railways has already consulted on the plans and has applied to the Transport Secretary for permission to build.

The importance of Oxford as a rail hub is likely to be further boosted by expected creation of a new east-west rail link to deliver services between Oxford, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes and Bedford.

  • Plans have been announced for a community-owned rail service that would see Oxford and Banbury linked with Swindon, Chippenham and Yeovil.

The proposal comes from Go! Co-operative, which says it wants to become the UK’s first co-operative train operating company.